Oh heavens, I don't even want to think about me without the net!

I was a nerdy introvert raised in a moderately abusive house, in a small town with hardly any other kids. I had zero social skills.

Got internet at 16, and now I could talk to anybody with no real barrier to entry. I spent a lot of years being oblivious and a borderline incel before learning to get my act together, but I can only imagine I'd be much more socially awkward and probably still be a jerk and much more conservative if I hadn't been able to talk to so many other people and especially with people of the opposite sex.

I still keep a small friend group, but I like to think it's more by choice now 😅